Steamer and warming oven



July 31, 2951 R. KELLER STEAMER AND WARMING OVEN Filed Aug. 12, 1948 w m M 1a It:

Jrwentor ROBERT L. KELLER FIG. .2

attomcg Patented July 31, 1951 2,562,723 .STEAMER AND WARMING OVEN "Robert L. Keller; Kalamazoo, Mich.

"Application August 12, 1948, Serial N0.'43;905

3 Claims. (01. 126-469) This invention. relates in general "to .a warming oven and more particularly toa .type thereoi in which frankfurtersand f ranlgfurter bunsmay be keptboth warm and freshf I is e v Present means for keeping, :frankfurters and buns warm .over longperiods 'of time have not been wholly satisfactory for one or more of many reasons. For example, the frankfurters often become dehydrated, tough, soggy, strong tasting, burnt'or reduced in size, The buns often become dry, hard, stale orburnt. Thus. after having been held in readinessfor immediate serving during a substantial'part of one day, neitherthe frankfurters nor, the buns are in fit condition to be keptover' night andj'served on the following day.

It is alsosigniflcan't that 'the present means for warming frankfurters 'an'd'buns usually comprises two separate pieces of equipment which often are not easily transportable.

Accordingly-a primary object ofthis'invention is to provide an easily transportable, combinationfisteamer "and warming oven in which both lest, hence the warmest; .frankfurters rare automatically-rma'demosteavailable for use.

A further object of this invention .is togprovide a warming 'ovenas aforesaid-in which the temperature and .humidity of the frankfurters: and

buns can be accurately: and automatically con- ;trolled.

r ,-A further objectcf this invention is to provide .a completely enclosed warming oven as aforesaid in'which the ,contents'are visible.

-Other objects. and ,purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon referring toytheac- .companying drawings .and upon reading the following specification.

In meeting those objects and purposes heretofore mentioned, as well-.asothers incidental thereto and associated therewith, I vhave-:provicleda @rectangular container .or chest -havinga pair of hinged'covers and a pluralityof compartmentsin which frankfurters.andbunsmaybeplaced. ;The

bottom of the oontaineris filled-with water which, when.heated,.both warms and humidifies the-contents ofone or both .compartments.

For illustrationof a preferred embodiment of my inventicmattention is directed to the accompanying drawings .in-which:

Figure !1 isan'oblique viewof the-said combination steamerand warming oven to which this invention relates.

Figure 2 isa sectional view taken along-the line II--II.of Figure .1.

Figure 3 is .a sectional view .taken..along .the line III-III .of Figure 2.-

Construction .The warming oven [0, shown 'in'Figure 11, is comprised of a rectangular chest ll .havingside Walls l2 and [3, end walls 14 and I5 (Figure 2) .andabottom. l6. .The side wall I2 is preferabl y, but not necessarily, provided with-a windo'w Ll, whichmay be made of any suitable transparent material, such asglassor. a transparent plastic, such .asmethyl methacrylate. The exact shape and other details of the window ll willbe jdisolosedmore ,ful1y; hereinafter.

A conventional .drain cock 1-8, communicating with the interior, of the chest, is preferably .mounted .on .oneof the end walls, here the end wall I4, .in a conventional manner adjacent gto the bottom IS. The chest chamber 19 is subdivided into a plurality of compartments (Figures 2 and 3) into which, and .from which, the frankfurtersand buns may be placed or removed.

A bun compartment 2 I, which is located at one end of the chest chamber I9,- preferably adjacent to the end wall I5,'has an inner wall 22 substantiallyparallel to,.and.s.paced from, said end :wall l5 and extending from theupper edges of" the sidewalls l2 and [3 down 'to'a point close tothe bottom Hi. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, wherein the chest is26 inches long, 19 inches .high and 1 0 inches wide, the point is about four inchesfrom the bottom l6. The bun compartment 2! hasabottom partition 24 which is.substantiallyparallel to the bottomlB and extends between thelower edge of .the inner. wall 22 and .the end wall l5. The inner wall..22 .and the bottom partition .24, which are preferably substantially perpendicular to the side walls I2 and i3, maybe secured thereto by rivets 23, .or any other suitable meanssuch as welding or .cementing. i

The bun compartmentzl may be providedwwith a. vertically removable partition 25 which .ispreferably parallel to.the,side walls 12 and l3 .and

approximately midway there between. The partition 25 is slidably supported in a vertical position upon the inner wall 22 and the end wall I5 between the partition slides 28 and 21, respectively. With the partition 25 in position (Figure 2), small buns A may be placed on either side thereof within the compartment 2|. With the partition 25 removed, larger buns may be stored therein. A frankfurter hopper 28 (Figures 2 and 3) is provided within the chest chamber I9 between the bun compartment inner wall 22 and the chest chamber end wall I4. The frankfurter hopper 28 is divided into a supply compartment 29 and a dispensing compartment 3| by means of the dispensing wall or partition 38. A frankfurter compartment floor 32 slopes downwardly at a steep angle from a point near the upper edge of the end wall I4 to a point spaced above said bottom I6 and about midway between said end wall I4 and said dispensing wall 38. The floor 32 then extends at a lesser angle beneath said supply compartment and dispensing compartment across to the inner wall 22 which it engages near the lower end thereof.

The floor 32 which is preferably made of material such as sheet metal or fine mesh screen, is removably supported upon brackets 33 which may be secured to said side walls by rivets 34, or any other suitable means such as cementing or welding. The floor 32, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, is bent along two lines at 32a and 321), which lines are parallel to each other and to the inner wall 22 thereby providing three non-parallel surfaces. The first or steep surface 35 of the floor 32 slopes downwardly from a point of engagement with the end wall I4 near the upper edge thereof at an angle of approximately 60 degrees thereto, and covers approximately M; of the distance between the end wall l4 and the inner wall 22. The second, or intermediate, surface 36, which has a very moderate slope of about 15 degrees to the horizontal, extends from, and is preferably integral with, the lower edge of the steep surface 35, approximately half the remaining distance to the inner wall 22. The third or horizontal surface 31 is integral with, or connected to, the second surface 36 and extends between it and the inner wall 22. Said horizontal surface 31 is substantially parallel with the chest bottom I8 and is preferably only slightly further from said bottom than is the lower wall 24. Thus, the floor 32, which is urged by gravity toward the bun compartment, bears against the inner wall 22 along the adjacent edge of the horizontal surface 31.

The dispensing wall 38 is disposed at an angle to the vertical in the same direction as that of the surface 35 but of less magnitude. In the illustrated embodiment the angle from the vertical of the partition 38 is about one-third that of the surface 35. The wall 38 extends downwardly from the upper edges of the side walls I2 and I3 toward the intermediate surface 36 of the sloping floor 32. The lower edge of the dispensing wall 38 is preferably spaced from said intermediate surface 36, when the floor 32 is in placeupon the brackets 33, so as to provide a frankfurter slot 39 through which the frankfurters B (Figure 3) may roll from the supply compartment 29 into the dispensing compartment 3|. The exact position of the dispensing wall 38 with respect to the intermediate surface 36 may be varied as desired or required, but said dispensing wall preferably lies within a plane 4 which intersects said intermediate surface 38 near the lower edge thereof. The dispensing wall 38, which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the side walls I2 and I3, may be secured thereto by the rivets 4| or any other suitable means, such as welding or cementing.

The chest |I (Figure 3) is provided with a supply top 42 and a dispensing top 43, adjacent to said supply top, which are preferably, but not necessarily, hinged upon the side wall I2 along the upper edge thereof. The supply top 42 preferably covers the frankfurter supply compartment 29 (Figure 2) defined by the end wall I4, the dispensing wall 38 and the side walls I2 and I3. The dispensing top 43 covers both the frankfurter dispensing compartment 3| and the bun compartment 2|. The tops 42 and 43, which may have handles 44 and vent holes 45, may be provided with downwardly extending flanges, such as the flange 46 on the supply top 42.

A water compartment 41 (Figure 3) is provided within the chest II between the bottom I6 thereof and the bun partition 24 and floor 32 of the frankfurter hopper 28, respectively. A removable partition 48, which is substantially parallel with the end walls l4 and I5, is slidably supported in a vertical position between the side walls I2 and I3 by means of the slides 49. The partition 48, which rests upon the chest bottom I6, may be positioned as desired with reference to the end walls I4 and I5, but is preferably approximately midway therebetween and will usually be longitudinally intermediate the lower edges of the dispensing wall 38 and the inner wall 22. The partition 48 extends upwardly from the chest bottom I6 toward, but preferably does not contact, the frankfurter hopper floor 32.

A pair of heating units 5| and 52 (Figure 3), which may be gas burners or electric plates, may be placed under the first portion 53 and second portion 54, respectively, of the water compartment 41, which portions lie on opposite sides of the removable partition 48.

A plurality of vapor openings 55 are provided in the steep surface 35 through which the hot water vapor or steam rising from the water compartment may pass when the warming oven is in operation. Similar openings may be provided in the second surface 36 and horizontal surface 31 if desired or required.

To provide a window, the metal of the side wall I2 is preferably cut away from the upper edge thereof down to within a short distance, such as a half inch, above the bottom partition 24 of the bun compartment and the frankfurter hopper floor 32 (Figure 1). This opening is covered with a transparent material I1, such as methyl methacrylate, which is secured to the side wall I2 by the rivets 56, or any other suitable means such as cement. An appropriate sealing compound may be used between the window and the side wall in a conventional manner to prevent leakage of moisture. Thus, the contents of the bun compartment 2| and the frankfurter hopper 28 are completely visible from one side of the warming oven III.

The various parts of the warming oven, such as the side walls, end walls, bottom, top, and partitioning members, exclusive of the window I1, may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as galvanized'sheet metal or stainless steel, which will resist corrosion and moderate heat but is easy to'clean and not too difiicult to handle either during or after fabrication.

1 Before operating the Warmingoven I 0, .thefloor 32. is. removed through the. supply "compartment 29 and :the removable partition 48 is removed from'the water compartment. The drain cook 18 is closed and water isintroduced into the water compartment-4'! to.a depth of two or three inches .foran oven of the size of the illustrated embodiment.

:The warmingoven I is .then .placedupon suitableheating units 5| and.52..an'd

;.the partition 48 and. sloping .fioor 3-2 are .re- ,turned -to theirrespective positions. The bun compartment 2|.is filled with buns..A and the -;supply compartment 29 1 of the frankfurter. hop- "specified temperatures which-temperatures may be determined and based upon the mostefiicie'nt "operationpf thewarming oven. 'The moist; warm vapor or steam from-theiwater'in the'firs't pon' "tion-'53,' which is normally held'at a somewhat higher temperature than the water in the second portion 54, rises and passes through the vapor openings 55 thereby heating and humidifying the frankfurters B within the supply compartment 29. The heated frankfurters are urged by gravity to roll, one or more at a time, through the slot 39 beneath the lower edge of the dispensing wall 38 into the dispensing compartment 3|. As the frankfurters are removed from the dispensing compartment 3! more frankfurters roll through the frankfurter slot 39. A small amount of moisture will pass through the frankfurter slot 39 and between the upper edge of the inner wall 22 and the dispensing top 43 into the bun compartment 2| to prevent too rapid dehydration of the buns A which are stored therein. The heated water in the water compartment second portion 54 warms the bun compartment 2! with a double boiler effect which, by limiting the intensity of the heat applied, also prevents rapid dehydration of the contents of the bun compartment. The removable partition in the bun compartment 2| makes it possible to warm buns onone side of the partition while using buns already warmed on the other side thereof. Thus, the oldest and warmest buns are enabled to be used first. The dispens- 7 ing wall 38 also provides for the consumption of the oldest and warmest frankfurters held in the supply compartment of the frankfurter hopper 28.

When the heating units under the warming oven are turned 01f, the frankfurters and buns may be easily transferred to suitable storage and the floor 32 and the removable partitions 25 and.

48 may be removed from the chest l I. The drain cock Iii is opened to drain the water from the water compartment 41. It may be readily seen (Fig. 3) that with only the bun compartment walls and the dispensing wall remaining within the chest H, the interior of the chest may be easily and quickly cleaned.

It will be recognized that the warming oven l 9 may be fabricated without the window I? and without the removable partitions 25 and 48. If the removable partition 48 is omitted from the water compartment 41, the water held therein wllli abe fiat 'isubstaritiallyithe same tempe'rature "throughout. Itw'ill be further recognize'd that due -to some tra'ns'fer 1 of heat through" the partition 58; it; willbe possible to effect some warming of the water in the portion 54 sol elyfrom the porti'on 53 of the water compartment; Hence, with 'the' he'ating unit -52 turned off, the water -under the' bun compartment will 'be -keptwarm, 'but 'at a lower-temperature than that under the "frankfurters'fo'r arr-indefinite period.

"Although the above mentioned drawings and description apply to one "particular, "preferred I embodiment of 5 the in'ventionfit is not myinte'ntion,'implied or otherwisef'to eliminate other Variations or modifications which do not depart from the-'scopeof the invention unlessspecifically "stated I to the contrary in the hereinafter appended claims. f

1. In a warming andsteamingoven iorfrankfurters and frankfurter "buns, the combination comprising: an oven chesthaving first and second end-wallsapairo'f side wallsand a bottomya 'bun compartment inner wallextending between and-secured tosaid side walls, said inner'wall -being parallel with; and spaced from said first end wall'and 'having'its lower edge'spaced from said bottom; a horizontal partition extending between and secured'tosaid sidewalls, said horizontal partition being parallel with and spaced from said bottom and extending between said inner wall lower edge and said first end wall to constitute a bottom for said bun compartment; a vertical partition resting upon said horizontal partition, and extending perpendicularly between and being removably supported upon said inner wall and said first end wall; a frankfurter hopper floor having first and second portions extending between and removably supported upon said side walls, said first portion having an upper edge engaging said second end wall near the top thereof and having a lower edge spaced from bothsaid second end wall and said bottom, and having also a plurality of openings therethrough and being steeply inclined with respect to said bottom, and said second portion being substantially horizontal and extending from the lower edge of said first portion to said inner wall near said lower edge thereof, and being spaced from said bottom; a dispensing wall extending between and secured to said side walls intermediate said inner wall and said second end wall, being slightly inclined upwardly away from said inner wall, and having its lower edge spaced from the upper surface of said second portion of the hopper floor; a supply top pivotally supported upon the upper edge of one side wall and covering the space between the upper edges of said second end wall and said dispensing Wall, said supply top having a handle and a plurality of vent holes; a dispensing top pivotally supported upon the upper edge of said one side wall adjacent to said supply top and covering the space between the upper edges of said dispensing wall and said first end wall, said dispensing top having a handle and a plurality of vent holes; a vertical panel longitudinally intermediate the lower end of said dispensing wall and said inner wall, resting upon said bottom, extending perpendicularly between and being slidably supported upon said side walls and extending toward but not contacting the lower surface of said hopper floor; a window in said one side wall exposing a portion of the chest interior; and a drain cock communicating with the interior of said chest and secured to one end wall adjacent to said bottom.

2. In a warming and steaming oven for frankfurters and buns, the combination comprising: an oven chest having a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, a bottom and a pair of adjacent tops pivotally secured to the upper edge of one side wall; a bun compartment means within said chest adjacent to one end wall and spaced from said bottom; a removable, vertically disposed, partition slidably supported within said bun compartment; a frankfurter hopper within said chest having a removable, sloping floor extending downwardly from engagement with the other end wall to engagement with a wall of said bun compartment, said floor having a plurality of openings therethrough and being spaced from said bottom; an upwardlyand downwardly disposed dispensing wall secured to said side walls intermediate said other end wall and said wall of said bun compartment, and having alower edge spaced from said floor; a removable, vertical panel engaging said bottom and said side walls 1. for Iranki'urters andbuns comprising: means forming a bun compartment; means adjacent said bun compartment forming a frankfurter hopper having a removable, sloping floor and a partition intermediate its ends extending from the top thereof toward, but spaced from, said floor; a pair of adjacent tops covering said bun compartment.

ROBERT L. KELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 874,278 Adams Dec. 17, 1907 1,876,614 Claus Sept. 13, 1932 2,053,935 Austin Sept; 8, 1936 2,441,994 DiPasquale May 25, 1948 2,469,778 Morici May 10, 1949 

